Lucky. Using something as simple as the light switches, phone or even a garage door opener in the presence of gas vapor can cause gas to ignite and a major explosion.

Do you have a carbon monoxide detector? I would think that is particularly important in your situation.

Would a carbon monoxide (CO) detector make a difference? Typically CO detectors are for detecting incomplete combustion. In your case, there was no combustion present (thankfully).

You need a natural gas detector for this situation. In my house, I have a combo natural gas and CO detector. (It doesn't work well, because it always goes off when I cook with booze.)

My old gas stove had the standard "turn knob to certain position for ignition". I was surprised to see on the Bluestar that there is no such feature. Somehow there is a detector that turns on the igniter when there is gas and when there is no flame. I don't know how it works, but that design would have lit the gas. You would not have had the gas build-up. Instead you would have had a hotter home, wasted some gas and possibly gotten burnt from not noticing the open flame.

Yes, some ranges have automatic re-ignition which would light the burner when the flame goes out - but this is not a mandatory feature on gas ranges and has the drawback that if the ignitor gets wet from say a boil-over, the thing clicks incessantly.

For most people the smell of natural gas (which is a required additive by the way) is sufficient. In your case you definitely need a natural gas detector.

This post was edited by weissman on Fri, Jun 6, 14 at 14:15

Thanks all for feedback. I have already purchased 5 plastic covers for the knobs; the kind for kids, of which they can open better than us. We do not have kids home any more and the Grandchildren never visit due to their age.

I am going to purchase a Natural Gas Detector for the house. Already have a Carbon Monoxide detector for combustion gas. With this scare I am going to by an LP Detector and a CO Detector for the RV .

Again ...... thanks all. It was a huge wake-up call.

Wake up call - and perhaps an indication a trip to a neurologist is in order for your wife.

I am glad to learn no one was injured.

Wow - pretty scary - my dad lost his sense of smell for years, so I understand. After gas put in a line in our house many years ago- I said, I smelled gas but no one else could smell it.
I called and there was a very small leak - so if you think you smell it - get it checked.
Guess, I need one more detector in the house...
Fire, Radon, CO, Heat, Oh my.
Glad everyone is fine.